The Moment That Changed My Life: My Journey of Curiosity
I remember the day I realized that through all my striving, achieving, goal setting, and planning, I was still deeply unfulfilled.
Specifically, it was November 2003, and I was sitting in my Tahoe before kicking off the day with a team sales meeting, drinking my Americano, and planning the day out for my team and me. It wasn’t unusual for me to arrive early because I liked to beat traffic, and even more, I was always prepared. I prided myself on running some of the most impactful sales meetings, leaving the team energized and focused.
At this point in my 15-year corporate leadership career, I was running the number two revenue-producing cost center in the state of Oregon, helping to hire and train my peers through our management training program, and was counted on as an integral part of the regional team. I was highly respected, and my annual bonus was approaching the point where it would exceed my salary—something that’s a great sign if you work for a “pay-for-performance” organization.
But on this crisp fall day in Portland, Oregon, something different happened. I began to cry.
At this point in my life, I was all execution. I viewed crying as a sign of weakness, not something I did in front of others. I allowed myself to cry for a few minutes, mostly because I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. I had worked so hard for so long to not feel—to be the one that was strong, that could make it through anything—but in this moment, I felt weak.
I’d love to tell you that all the answers came to me that morning, but they didn’t. Honestly, I sucked it up and went on with my day. But when I went home that night, I told my husband Joal what had happened. And you know what he did? He asked me one question that would change the rest of my personal and professional life.
He asked me, “What’s wrong?”
For the first time in my life, I said, “I don’t know…”
You see, I always had a plan. I was always prepared. I controlled all the variables. I said yes to things I knew I’d excel at. My career and way of being were my identity.
But the most powerful part of that question wasn’t just admitting I didn’t know. It was the second half of my answer: “… but I am going to find out!”
And that, my friends, was the beginning of my journey of curiosity. I began asking myself deeper questions and, perhaps for the first time, answering them truthfully. The moment I realized I didn’t need to have all the answers, something shifted inside me forever.
Curiosity can be simply defined as a strong desire to discover something unknown. And if you can build this character trait in your life, so many dynamic opportunities, meaningful relationships, health, joy, and fulfillment will open to you.
Albert Einstein famously said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing… It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day.”
So today, I invite you to start—or maybe continue—your journey of curiosity with me. A good place to begin is with what you know for sure—the routines, the habits, the ideas, actions, places, or people you hold so tightly because they make you feel comfortable. Start asking questions there.
Below are a few of my favorite questions to ask when I feel that creeping sense of “nothing is necessarily wrong, but somehow nothing is right either”:
- What else could be possible in this situation?
- What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?
- If I didn’t have to control the outcome, what new opportunities could emerge?
- Who can I reach out to for a fresh perspective or deeper connection?
Curiosity unlocks possibilities and clears the path toward greater meaning in our lives.
Are you ready to embrace it?
Let’s start discovering together.
